Will Power

Ah, the myth of willpower. The truth is, you don't have power over your will. The English word, will, comes from the Greek concepts of pleasure, delight or desire. In other words, to will something is to desire it. The word, willpower, is well-intentioned but it might be deceiving you into thinking you can gain power over what you desire. Impossible. (Read that like you'd hear the guys on SNL saying, "the bulls", "the blackhawks"... "impossible".) You can help guide, you can feed properly, you can influence... but demonstrate power over your desire? Nope. If you could truly control your will why would you be in the mess you have been in? (or are currently in?) Why would mankind experience so many problems?

Our good friend, James says in his chapter 4, "What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?" So, the bad news is you can't control your will. But, the good news is once you humble yourself and admit the bad news, your will can't control you. (read the rest of James 4)

I recently caught up with James backstage in El Paso before his "Rock with Humility" tour kicked off, and asked him about what it means to humble ourselves and admit the bad news.

James, I'm a big fan. Thanks for taking some time out before your big night.

No problem, chief. I'm happy to.

So, give us some verbs to help us better understand what humbling ourselves means?

Ok, how about 'submit', 'draw near', 'wash' and 'purify'?

Nice, (laughing) thanks but I'd really rather not do that. That's pretty demeaning don't you think?

Well, look if you have no trust in the one telling you to pursue these verbs then yeah, I suppose it could come across as demeaning.

Right. Like my buddy, Robbie, who grew up in a house where his Dad was always telling him what to do. But Robbie didn't respect that. He knew his dad was hypocritical and wasn't practicing any of those things himself.

Good point. So, that's why it's so important for you to know who you are talking to here. I'm James, I was an eye-witness to Jesus. I was his half-brother and I'm telling you, you can trust Him. He's not encouraging anyone to do what He didn't do. I watched him. This isn't demeaning. I mean, it's hard but not demeaning. He humbled Himself in the same way He knows you need to. It's amazing really. Bro, think about it, He was God, the ruler of the universe and yet He was so good at submitting and humbling Himself. He was like a machine -

A machine?

Yeah, no, not really a machine. That's just a figure of speech and it was poorly chosen because He was the opposite of a machine. He was real, authentic and passionate, full of energy and power... and yet in the middle of all that is this mystery...

Tell me about the mystery, James.

Yeah, this whole counter-intuitive, mystery thing of 'dying to live', 'losing to win'... of wanting to be good but needing to admit you're bad before you can be good. Look, you gotta stop trying so hard to fix it all yourself and let God do it. The stuff inside you is way to powerful for you to control. If you don't pursue submitting, washing, purifying, etc... you are in trouble.

What do you mean by that?

It could mean a lot of different things, really. You know, I'll never forget a church I was at once that couldn't control how they talked. You've probably never witnessed that... Gossip here. Misleading there. You talk about trouble. It was bad, man. It was like this large area covered chiefly by trees just blazing on fire. Out of control -

How does that connect the whole humility thing...?

Look, I'm just saying that's a great example of how out of control we really are. I mean, here's a church... a church, right? The place where we think we've got it all in control but it's not. And it's that way because the people there just wouldn't humble themselves. Remember what Jesus said? "Draw close to me and I'll draw close to you." Right? Remember that? These people couldn't do it. Truth is, none of us can without admitting we're not in control.

So, don't let me put words in your mouth but it sounds like you're saying what I've been trying to communicate... and that is we really don't have power over our will, our desires do we? We really don't have willpower?

(Laughing) Willpower? No. Will-guidance maybe. Will-help... But no willpower.

That's pretty much what I said at the beginning of this post. We've come full-circle.

Well, it sounds like it but don't just leave 'em there, chief.

What do you mean?

I mean, don't just tell people that they've got no power over their will. That's the negative side. True, but negative. You gotta get to the positive. Make sure they know that when they confess their sins He will forgive them. He will move into their lives and empower them Himself, personally. I've seen it. I've experienced it. You talk about power over the will! This is it, bro. The Spirit-filled-person is someone who is controlled by the desire... the will... of the Spirit. How cool is that? Never forget to leave them with that hope.

Good stuff. Wow, thanks for your time I really appreciate it, Jimmy. I was thinking about calling you that? Can I call you Jimmy? That was just something -

No.

Ok, good. Let's just stick with James. I like James.

Thank You

reviewing some journaling last night i came across an old lyric i wrote during a big transition time in my life several years ago... thought i would post it today...

Thank you family for the love you’ve given me
For all we’ve been through and for what will be
I’m much richer for having you in my life
Thank you family, thank you

Thank you friends for the memories that will never end
Seems like yesterday when it all began
I’m so much richer for having you in my life
Thank you family, thank you friends, thank you

Thank You Father for sending us Your Son
Thank You Jesus for the work You’ve done
Thank You Holy Spirit for leading us all along
Thank you family, thank you friends. Thank You Jesus, thank You.
Thank you family, thank you friends. Thank You Jesus, thank You.

Sharks Football

My mtn-climbing-photographer-canadian-friend, adrian pantea, took this shot of my boy, Evan, after a recent football game. Thanks Adrian! There may be nothing I do that's more fun than coaching my kids!

More Cowbell

Thanks to Andy A for sending me this...
I've got a fever and the only thing that can cure it is... more cowbell.

The Anvil

This is for a new acquaintance, Maggie (sp?) who I met yesterday at church. She was commenting on the 'Winners and Losers' from a couple weeks ago...

When will we remember that those who are “last are first”, that “unless something dies it cannot come to life” and that it’s okay to lose an argument? (When’s the last time you heard any preacher/politician admit to that?) Yes, it’s counter-intuitive and it feels like we are being hammered to death at times but Christianity is an anvil that has worn out many hammers!
from 'Branding Christianity' post.

(BTW - I've always felt like when you begin quoting yourself that it's a bad sign but the whole "anvil, hammer" thing wasn't actually original with me. I can't remember where I read it but it was hanging around in my brain and fit for the post. So, see, I'm kinda not quoting my self! Reminds me of something Rick Warren says, "The first time you use my material, credit me. The second time say, 'It's been said.' The third time say, 'You know, I've been thinking.'")

Margin of Error

Three-word-phrases that make little sense to me include, "Some Assembly Required", "Selling Like Hotcakes", and of course, "Margin of Error."

www.robertniles.com seems to break down the meaning of "margin of error" for me a little. Unfortunately I'm not a mathematician so I can't seem to grasp the concept for long. Like picking up ice cubes I spilled on the kitchen floor this morning with wet hands, I have to concentrate and go slowly and even then I'm bound to have some slip through my fingers.

The phrase has got me thinking though... What's the margin of error in your life? A four-percent margin of error might mean that 95 times out of a 100 you react to challenges in life within four points of what the right answer is. Hmmm... What if your margin of error is bigger? What if you're further away from the right answer? Furthermore, what if your confidence level is lower?

The complex (I know, some would say simple) mathematical equations we've come up with to determine polling accuracy make me wonder about how complex our equations would have to be regarding questions of eternal significance. Like, how good do you have to be in order to have an authentic relationship with a perfect God? If your responses to situations, tests and issues in life determine your ability to bring heaven on earth and give eternal heaven how often do you need to respond correctly... 25, 65, 95%? You would probably concede that no one responds perfectly 100% of the time so... let's pick a number... 80%. Let's say that in order to be in a right relationship with the Creator one needs to come in at around an 80% correct response rate, what makes up the last 20%?

What makes up the difference?

Better yet, who makes up the difference?